Webinar Rewind: Framework for the Future—Modernizing Enrollment Management at the System Level

At a time when the number of U.S. high school graduates is projected to decline, institutions face not just the prospect of fewer students, but also students and families who increasingly question whether higher education is worth the investment. In this era, system-wide innovation is essential.

During Liaison’s recent webinar, Framework for the Future: Modernizing Enrollment Management at the System Level, higher education leaders explored how multi-campus systems can leverage technology, collaboration, and data to modernize enrollment strategies while promoting equitable student outcomes.

During the conversation, Nancy Zimpher, Ph.D., President of the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH), elaborated the concept of systemness, highlighting how the collective power of a system can achieve more than individual institutions working in isolation. “This isn’t about uniformity, it’s about alignment,” Zimpher said. “By coordinating resources, policies, and data, systems can work in service of students, families, and communities.”

Zimpher pointed out that despite the scale of public higher education—75% of U.S. undergraduate students are served by system institutions—enrollment operations remain fragmented. Students face multiple portals, conflicting deadlines, and inconsistent requirements even within the same system. By adopting a centralized application platform, such as a Liaison Centralized Application Service (CAS), systems can streamline processes, reduce administrative duplication, and gain real-time visibility into enrollment trends, enabling strategic, data-driven decisions.

A key example of systemness in action comes from the California State University (CSU) system. Prior to implementing a centralized application, CSU’s process was fragmented, creating barriers for students and inefficiencies for campuses. In partnership with Liaison, CSU launched Cal State Apply, a system-wide platform that allows students to submit a single application across multiple campuses. The results included a 5% increase in overall applications in the first year as well as real-time insights into trends, equity gaps, and outreach effectiveness. Beyond technology, the initiative fostered a cultural shift toward collaboration, transparency, and shared commitment across all campuses.

Craig Cornell, Vice President of Enrollment Strategy at Liaison, highlighted how centralized applications and the Liaison Living Profile—a platform that allows students to showcase their academic and extracurricular achievements—can extend systemness by connecting students’ academic and career journeys from middle school through college and into the workforce. These tools allow systems to identify underserved populations, strengthen transfer pathways, and align educational programs with workforce needs. A centralized platform doesn’t diminish campus autonomy; rather, it empowers campuses to test, scale, and share successful practices system-wide.

April Grommo, Ed.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment Management at CSU, described the operational success of Cal State Apply, noting that CSU saw an 8.45% increase in applications in its first year. Students now benefit from a seamless, equitable experience, including integrated opportunities for first-generation and underrepresented applicants. On the operational side, campuses save significant time on administrative tasks, enabling admissions teams to focus on supporting students. CSU’s transfer planner further strengthens pathways from community colleges, while the Living Profile allows students to track academic and career goals over time.

The webinar also highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement and change management. Grommo explained that involving 14 of 22 CSU campuses in the RFP and implementation process created shared ownership and trust. Training sessions, regional workshops, and continuous communication helped ensure that the system-wide transition was embraced by staff, counselors, and students alike.

Ultimately, modernizing enrollment management at the system level is about more than technology—it’s about rethinking the student experience. By leveraging systemness and centralized applications, higher education systems can simplify admissions, enhance equity, and make data-informed decisions that improve outcomes for students and institutions alike. As Zimpher said, “Every application is a story. Every data point represents a person with aspirations. Systems that act collectively, share data, and focus relentlessly on access and student success won’t just survive—they’ll lead.”

The CSU example demonstrates that collaboration, trust, and strategic technology can reshape public higher education for the better. For system leaders and enrollment managers, the lesson is clear: embracing systemness and investing in centralized application platforms isn’t just modernization—it’s reinvention with purpose.

To hear the entire conversation, listen to Framework for the Future: Modernizing Enrollment Management at the System Level now.